For lawn-loving Caucasians

Viewing 3 posts - 16 through 18 (of 18 total)
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  • #38737

    H-St-Clair
    Participant

    It probably goes back to the ‘American Dream,’ where all lawns had to look prefect. Also remember there are some Caucasians who have old, run-down cars in their lawns along with other trash. It’s not something we all do. Usually, it’s in the middle-upper class areas, where keeping a good lawn is the same as being a good person.

    User Detail :  

    Name : H-St-Clair, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 22, City : Seattle, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    #34153

    Karen26773
    Participant

    I think some white people (like my next door neighbor) genuinely enjoy fussing over their lawns. I (a white first-time homeowner) and many others, however, see it as a necessary home care task. Sometimes (like when the weather is nice) it’s pleasant to do. Most of the time it’s just work. I feel pressured to do it because I think my neighborhood expects it of me. When a neighborhood is filled with tidy green lawns, we believe it helps promote the overall desirability of the area and keep our home values from eroding. For instance, I wouldn’t buy a house that looks messy on the outside, because God only knows what’s been neglected on the inside. We’re all worried about someday being unable to sell our houses. Also, it may be that when a neighborhood is well-maintained, it looks like people care and are paying attention, and there may be less crime or vandalism. It’s ‘known’ that when a neighborhood ‘slips’ a little in terms of maintenance, it will likely accelerate and ‘slide fast.’ I know people who refuse to move into a neighborhood if they see a car parked on the grass at one house, because it looks ‘trashy.’ I don’t know how factual that all is, but perceptions matter in real estate as well as in politics.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Karen26773, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, City : Newport News, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : accountant, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 
    #18134

    James20903
    Participant

    I am a white male, and I have a theory about this. I think that white people (and in this case, I mean generally those of European descent) tend to prefer to control nature as much as they can. This perhaps stems from hundreds of years of doing so. Black people seem to me to seek a more symbiotic relationship with nature, rather than an adversarial one. A well-groomed lawn is simply not natural; having one demonstrates a degree of victory over the natural world.

    User Detail :  

    Name : James20903, Gender : M, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, 
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